Charlie Skillen currently works for the Mail Online as well as working with the ChelseaFansChannels on Youtube. We recently spoke to him to discuss Chelsea and how he became a fan. Charlie also goes on to talk about his work and how he reached this stage of his career. Here is what Charlie had to say:
Beginning with Charlie the Chelsea fan, what was your earliest memory of supporting Chelsea?
My Dad and Grandad have both been going to Chelsea all their lives – and both still go now – so when it came to picking a team, I had no choice! My first match was in the 1995-96 season, Glenn Hoddle’s last year in charge. We lost 2-1 to Aston Villa… John Spencer scored for Chelsea.
Who’s been your favourite Chelsea player from then until now?
I’ve been lucky enough to see most of the greatest players in the club’s history play, but in terms of my favourite I’d have to pick Gianfranco Zola. He was magical to watch as a player and I was delighted to interview him recently – a lovely man.
What was more influential for Chelsea; Winning the first title or the Champions League?
Winning the title in 2005 – Chelsea’s first for 50 years – was so key to getting the Abramovich era really rolling. It was a truly great side and so many of them were mainstays for the best part of a decade. The Champions League was the greatest moment but came pretty much out of the blue, with a management team very soon to be dismantled. In terms of influence, it would be the title.
Who would win in a one off match; Chelsea 2004-05 or Chelsea 2014-15?
Mourinho’s first side. Last season saw some of the best football I’ve ever seen Chelsea play, but the team ten years before was a more complete team, I feel – and certainly at full strength with Robben and Duff flying down the wings.
On a slightly more negative note, what’s the worst defeat you’ve seen from a Chelsea side?
The loss against Bradford last season sticks out, actually, probably only because it’s so fresh in the memory. A pathetic display, but of course others have hurt far more. Losing to Tottenham in the 2008 League Cup final under Avram Grant was brutal.
Onto your career now, how did you get into journalism and was it something you always wanted to do?
I’ve always wanted to write about football ever since it became clear I wasn’t going to partner Dennis Wise in midfield. I started doing freelance work for magazines like Nuts and FourFourTwo while I was a teenager, and went to the Daily Mail almost three years ago after doing a Journalism qualification.
Following on from that, how did you end up working with Chelsea Fans Channel?
I’ve known Rory a while and when the channel started he wanted a Sunday Supplement-style programme where he talks to a journalist about Chelsea. It was a no brainer. We’re mates and I think that comes across on camera – it’s great fun.
Back to Chelsea, With Falcao confirmed and Begovic all but done, where else do you think Chelsea have to strengthen this summer?
I still think Chelsea need a goalscoring attacking midfielder to balance the threat of Hazard – who still looks like he’s doing it all on his own at times. I also don’t want to see Mourinho getting by with an out-of-position Zouma in games he thinks Matic and Fabregas won’t suffice in midfield. Longer term, a centre-half is a must.
With Loftus-Cheek getting some minutes at the back end of last season, do you think any youngsters will get game time this season?
I think they will, but too many seem to want them to play all the time. It should be the right youngsters, at the right time. I think Loftus-Cheek will have a squad place and feature heavily in some cup games, I can see Solanke getting minutes up front.
If there was one Premier League player you could put into Chelsea’s team right now, who would it be?
I think Koscielny would work well alongside Terry, but I’ll pick someone else from the Emirates. Alexis Sanchez has taken the Premier League by storm – the prospect of him and Hazard alternating flanks is scary.
Finally, what are you hoping for as a whole for next season for the Blues?
I think it’s going to be a lot, lot tighter and tougher this time around. United, Arsenal, City and Liverpool have all strengthened massively, while Chelsea don’t look to be hugely altering the first XI. My main hope is that Chelsea are still challenging on the last day, but a vastly improved Champions League campaign – in performance and progression – is an absolute must.
A big thank you to Charlie for taking his time to speak to us. You can find him on Twitter @charlieskillen, at Mail Online and you can also subscribe to the ChelseaFansChannel here.
